Wedding Videographer Disappeared...

I would check with post office for forwarding address, and if you get one send a certified letter demanding your videos. I would also check with BBB for your area, and consider calling the local news for help. Here in St. Louis all the big 3 have investigation reports about scams and people running off with your money all the time. Chances are that your not alone.

If he won't respond, you give him a final warning, then take him to court.

Do you have a contract? If so, the terms of it are important, so that if you have to, you can take him to court.

If no contract, what do you have in writing? Also important.

If you don't have anything... well...

Yeah, if you signed a contract and have a copy, you should take him to court.

Thank you for the suggestions. I do have the contract. If I go to court with him, should I go through Small Claims or hire an attorney? Another problem is that the only way to reach him is probably go through his wife's business. Not sure how that would turn out. Anyone know a good attorney for a case like this?

I'd send your last chance message via a few methods, including the wife's business and even a note on his office door, and if he still doesn't deliver, go scorched Earth:

Google some info for your county, but its probably small claims court. It will cost a little bit of money in filing fees, but you'll probably end up with a judgement against him. Whether or not he pays.... well...

Next step, is the social media shaming. Reviews here, on Google Business, Yelp, Facebook... anything you can think of, including the BBB (which is a sham, but that's a whole other thing). Do NOT take them down for any reason. Be honest in them. Use his name, and his business name, to make sure he can't just start over.

I'd send your last chance message via a few methods, including the wife's business and even a note on his office door, and if he still doesn't deliver, go scorched Earth:

Google some info for your county, but its probably small claims court. It will cost a little bit of money in filing fees, but you'll probably end up with a judgement against him. Whether or not he pays.... well...

Next step, is the social media shaming. Reviews here, on Google Business, Yelp, Facebook... anything you can think of, including the BBB (which is a sham, but that's a whole other thing). Do NOT take them down for any reason. Be honest in them. Use his name, and his business name, to make sure he can't just start over.

Small claims is tough because even if you win the case, you still have to find a way to collect... Some defendants just don't even show up to court (thus losing the case by default), but getting what's owed back to you when they don't appear is really hard. You don't need an attorney for small claims, and if you have your signed contract and proof of payment, your case should be an easy one to decide. You should win, if you can get him there.

I would send your final warning certified mail (signature required) and threaten to take him to small claims court (be specific about where you're filing, etc) if he doesn't deliver your video as according to your signed contract. The threat may be enough to put your project to the top of his to do list.

Good luck!